The best crime shows of 2024

If production houses are on the hunt for old hits to remake, “Ripley” is a masterclass in how to get them right.

The eight-part miniseries, streaming on Netflix, is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel, “The Talented Mr. Ripley.”

It follows con artist Tom Ripley (played by Andrew Scott), who is hired by a wealthy American in New York to find his son, Dickie (Johnny Flynn), who is living in Italy. Ripley’s decision to take on the job is where all the trouble begins.

The story was famously brought to the big screen in 1999 with a film, also called “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” starring Jude Law, Matt Damon, and Gwyneth Paltrow. At the time, the film was both commercially and critically successful, snagging five Academy Award nominations.

Two decades later, writer-director Steven Zaillian added his spin, including his most controversial stylistic choice: to film the entire show in black and white.

The original film was made in color, with sun-washed pastel hues, but I enjoyed watching the show in black and white. It took away focus from the gorier details, concentrating more on sounds and textures, and also helped the show stand out.

“Ripley” had a modest release, garnering 2.3 million views in its first weekend on Netflix, Variety reported. However, it more than compensated by earning 13 Emmy Award nominations this summer and winning four, including best directing for a limited or anthology series or movie, in September.

This one’s a slow-watch show — I recommend taking your time with it and enjoying the high-art cinematography.

IMDb rating (out of 10): 8.1

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 86%

How does a 20-something mother of a 6-year-old, enveloped in grief and abuse from her marriage, turn into a masterful jewel thief?

According to “Joan,” the answer is partly maternal instincts and partly a desire to take control of her life.

Sophie Turner — my favorite of the Stark siblings in “Game of Thrones” — plays real-life diamond thief Joan Hannington with fierce conviction.

The ITV1 show, adapted from Hannington’s memoir, “I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief,” was reworked for the screen by Anna Symon.

Like many British crime dramas, the six-part show gets right to the heart of the story — it opens with a tense scene in which Joan has to flee with her daughter, before eventually leaving her in foster care because she has no money.

From then on, Joan has two goals: to get her daughter back and make enough money to rebuild her life.

Of course, once she does make money illegally, a sense of invincibility sets in, and at one point, you watch Turner’s character enjoy the criminal she’s become. These moments are punctuated with affectionate ones as she spends time with her daughter, Kelly, played by Mia Millichamp-Long.

The highlight for me was watching Turner transform and grow episode after episode. But what stayed with me were the choices her character made to survive (and thrive) for her daughter.

IMDb rating: 6.7

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 81%

If it hasn’t already been said, 2024 belongs to the anti-hero, specifically one from the DC universe: Oswald Cobb, aka the Penguin.

If you’ve previously enjoyed films such as “The Godfather” or shows like “The Sopranos,” then you’ll find yourself drawn to (and seriously hooked on) “The Penguin.”

It’s a gritty, character-driven crime drama that picks up where Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” (2022) left off, focusing on the aftermath of Gotham’s destabilization.

But don’t worry if you haven’t watched the film or aren’t a DC fan. The show and its titular antihero, played by an almost unrecognizable Colin Farrell, offer a deep dive into one of Batman’s most iconic enemies, giving plenty of backstory throughout.

The noir-inspired narrative is packed with intense drama, moral ambiguity, and power struggles.

The show debuted as an eight-part limited series on HBO, concluding with a jaw-dropping finale that drew 2.1 million viewers across all platforms, Variety reported.

Unsurprisingly, then, it has also been nominated for multiple Golden Globe Awards, including best television limited series and best performance by a male actor in a limited series.

IMDb rating: 8.7

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 95%

“Presumed Innocent” is a gripping legal drama that explores the dark intersections of ambition, betrayal, and justice.

Based on Scott Turow’s best-selling novel of the same name, the series reimagines the courtroom thriller for a modern audience.

The story follows Rusty Sabich (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), a talented prosecutor whose life is upended when he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a colleague he had an affair with.

As secrets unravel, the series dives into complex themes of guilt, loyalty, and the fine line between truth and deception, keeping viewers on the edge until the end.

With a stellar cast, sharp writing, and a tense, atmospheric tone, the show promises a masterclass in suspense.

The eight-episode show, which is streaming on Apple TV+, has already been renewed for a second season and has been nominated for multiple Golden Globes.

IMDb rating: 7.7

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 78%

For true, true crime fans, “The Asunta Case” feels all too familiar.

It is a chilling six-episode miniseries that revisits the 2013 murder of 12-year-old Asunta Yong Fang Basterra Porto in Spain.

Using archival footage, interviews, and courtroom recordings, the series dives into the puzzling details of the case, including the arrest and trial of Asunta’s adoptive parents, who were accused in her death.

Unlike other true crime dramas, though, it does not sensationalize or overdramatize an already complex situation. Instead, it uses facts to keep audiences engaged.

At times, the series proceeds very slowly but still offers a sharp breakdown of the case.

The details of the case and the Porto family’s dynamics, coupled with a lack of motive, kept me up (and wondering) for several nights.

As of June 2024, the show had garnered 30 million views since it premiered on Netflix.

IMDb rating: 6.8

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%

“Griselda” chronicles the rise of Griselda Blanco, the infamous Colombian drug lord who built one of the most lucrative cartels.

The series, which stars Sofía Vergara in a transformative performance, explores Blanco’s dual nature as a criminal mastermind and a fiercely protective mother.

Vergara’s portrayal is magnetic. She sheds her comedic persona to embody a woman who is as compelling as she is terrifying. Given that I’ve mostly seen Vergara as Gloria from “Modern Family,” initially, I found it hard to picture her as a Colombian drug lord, but I passed that barrier about 20 minutes into the first episode.

Visually, the show captures the 1970s and ’80s drug-trade era in stunning detail. The cinematography by Armando Salas shines a light on the dangers of the narcotics empire balanced with intimate moments of Blanco’s conflict.

The series occasionally slips in pacing, rushing through certain chapters of Blanco’s life while lingering on others that lack depth. Despite this, I found the narrative engaging.

Vergara was rightfully nominated for an Emmy Award in the outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie category, but she did not win.

IMDb rating: 7.2

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 86%

Watching “Under the Bridge” left me shaken in a way few shows have.

The miniseries, adapted for TV based on late writer Rebecca Godfrey’s 2005 novel of the same name, revisits the heartbreaking 1997 murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk and immediately dives into the complexities of bullying, exclusion, and the systemic failures that allowed this tragedy to unfold.

What struck me most was how raw and real it felt. The performances by Riley Keough, who plays writer Rebecca Godfrey, and Lily Gladstone, who plays Cam, a police officer, were so authentic that I couldn’t stop thinking about them long after the episodes ended.

Archie Panjabi, who plays Suman, Virk’s grief-stricken mother, is also fantastic on the show.

It isn’t your regular post-dinner watch; this one pulls you into its world immediately and then stays with you long after. It doesn’t just tell Reena’s story from various viewpoints but forces us to confront the issues we often shy away from.

IMDb rating: 7.2

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 86%

A (seemingly) picture-perfect wedding weekend at a stunning Nantucket estate takes a dark turn when the bride’s best friend and maid of honor, Merritt Monaco (played by Meghann Fahy), is discovered dead on the beach.

While I spent much of the year immersed in dark, gritty crime dramas, “The Perfect Couple” felt like a refreshing departure.

With its idyllic seaside setting and a cast of well-dressed suspects, the series balances its mystery with a lighter, almost escapist charm. Beneath the polished exterior, though, lay a tangle of secrets and lies that kept me guessing “who did it” until the very end.

The show, which is based on Elin Hilderbrand‘s 2018 novel of the same name, offers more than just a whodunit — it’s a creative exploration of relationships, privilege, and the facades people maintain, all wrapped in a beautifully shot package that feels like a guilty pleasure worth indulging in.

Oh, and did I mention Meghan Trainor’s viral-for-the-right-reasons and very catchy dance track “Criminals,” which was played at the beginning of the show and had everyone, including me, swaying along each time?

According to Nielsen’s September 2-8 report, which The Wrap shared, the show garnered 1.9 billion views in its opening week.

IMDb rating: 6.5

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 66%